Bryan Bowman - Jazz Drummer and Composer

SFJAZZ Opening Events

Bryan Bowman — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:32:05 +0000

I’m playing this week with Mary Stallings Eric Reed and Matt Penman at the opening festivities at SFJAZZ. It’s humbling experience to say the least working with such great musicians and being around so many ridiculously amazing artists. A highlight was meeting and hearing Chick Corea who I have always admired. Also to meet and hear Jeff Ballard and Eric Harland has been a total blast. Between them and Brian Blade I think they are some of the greatest living musicians of the drumming variety. The SF Jazz Collective is an great group and the level of improv and mastery of these people is insane.

There is audio available from the opening night at NPR SFJAZZ Live Broadcast - I played on the opening song with Mary Stallings. Check out Chick throughout the evening! He’s playing better than ever.

Also irony of ironies would have me in the photo in todays issue of the New York Times about SFJAZZ. I thought I might sneak through unnoticed but no luck.

Marin Blog Review

Second Annual Mark Levine Jazz Benefit

Bryan Bowman — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:25:47 +0000

I’ll be playing a couple of shows with with pianist Mark Levine in October in the Mt. Shasta area. Here are the details for those nearby.

http://m.redding.com/news/2012/sep/07/second-annual-mark-levine-jazz-fundraiser-coming-i/?partner=RSS

Homespun Trio – Chez Hanny 8-05-12

Bryan Bowman — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 22:42:54 +0000

Check out the Homespun live show from Chez Hanny on Aug 08 2012.

Homespun is Grant Levin – piano, Fred Randolph – bass, Bryan Bowman – drums

Listen on Soundcloud - Homespun Trio Live at Chez Hanny 8-08-12

Earl May Bass Transcription – Like Someone In Love

Bryan Bowman — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 23:06:46 +0000

Lush Life is one of my favorite John Coltrane albums and there are a few piano-less tracks with Earl May and Art Taylor that are amazing.

On Like Someone In Love, bassist Earl May plays the most melodic bass line that I was inspired to transcribe it.

Earl May (Bass Line)
Like Someone In Love – From Lush Life – John Coltrane
Like Someone In Love – Earl May Bass Line – PDF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk3BOf8FjYY

The Pawnshop Song – Bryan Bowman

Bryan Bowman — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 06:32:05 +0000

I wrote a song about the predatory nature of pawnshops in 1996. I sing on it and did the keyboard parts. I remember playing it for people back then who basically thought I was being too negative. A total downer… After all we were living in a boom time economy and everything was great unless you were living on the street in downtown LA or in Belgrade. Things are economically worse by many magnitudes now and I wonder if it will resonate with people a bit more. Either way it’s just a song I wrote to cheer myself up.

Soul Journey – a Tribute to Danielle Drumke

Bryan Bowman — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:36:17 +0000

Some people know that I enjoy composing music of my own and one my favorite compositions to date is a piece called Soul Journey which I wrote for the wonderful and multi-talented Danielle Drumke who left this world far too early.

You can hear the recording of myself on piano and David Otten on guitar on my Myspace page.

Soul Journey – MP3

If you are interested in learning more about Danielle Drumke check out the Glamour article which was written by her equally amazing sister Mila. Click here to read the article.

Pianist Robert Bowman’s Website

Bryan Bowman — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:14:07 +0000

Happy May Everyone,

I wanted to let you know about Robert Bowman’s new website www.robertebowman.com

You can find out about his performances, workshops and private piano lessons there. There is also some great audio and video to check out!

As some of you know he frequently performs in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as in Northern California near his home in Chico. For a listing of his upcoming performances you can click here.

I highly recommend checking out the audio clips on his website and attending one of his concerts soon!

Here is his short bio…

Dr. ROBERT BOWMAN, keyboard artist, has performed extensively on the West, Midwest and East Coasts of the United States in solo and chamber ensemble recitals, numerous appearances with orchestra, and on radio-tv since 1960. He has also performed solo and ensemble recitals in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Japan, and Mexico.

He served as coordinator of the keyboard program at California State University, Chico from 1971-2003, and retired as Professor Emeritus in 2008. Dr. Bowman previously was a member of the of keyboard faculties of Eastern Illinois University (1969-71) and University of Southern California (1965-69). Since retirement, he continues to maintain a private music studio, perform concerts, as well as present master classes, lectures, lecture-recitals on a wide variety of subjects, and interactive keyboard workshops including a series entitled “The Joy of Improvisation.” In 2009, he joined the faculty of the Sacramento School of Music. He is also currently accompanying and coaching talented young string players in the North State, and regularly adjudicates for keyboard competitions and festivals including The U.S. Open Keyboard Competition in Oakland, the Northern Nevada Music Teachers’ Association Piano Festival in Reno. He has also adjudicated for the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, CAPMT, and the MTAC Certificate of Merit.

To read the full bio click here.

Homespun Trio – Grant Levin, Fred Randolph and Bryan Bowman

Bryan Bowman — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:22:21 +0000

The jazz trio Homespun has just released a cd of original material and some standards as well as some other popular 60′s tunes.

The group features Grant Levin on piano, Fred Randolph on bass and and me on drums.

Buy it on CD Baby!

Stay tuned for more information about this group! We will definitely be performing together in the Bay Area soon!

Mark Levine Trio – Mount Shasta Brewery

Bryan Bowman — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:05:46 +0000

On Saturday October 8th and Sunday October 9th I’m very happy to be a part of two jazz trio performances with pianist Mark Levine and bassist Greg Daugelli at the Mount Shasta Brewery in the town of Weed, California.

These are two of my favorite musicians on the planet and I’m sure it will be a great weekend of music.

I have known Mark since 1991 and have played with him off and on ever since. he is a very fine musician and literally wrote the book on jazz piano. His Jazz Piano book is published in several languages and has won international acclaim.

Greg Daugelli is a fabulous bass player and multi-instrumentalist who lives in Chico California. I have played with him since the early 80′s and definitely owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his encouragement and inspiration over the years.

Please come to the concert if you are in the area!

Mark Levine Concert Flyer – PDF

New CD Release – Hawkeye

Bryan Bowman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:51:19 +0000

I’m very happy to say that I have a brand new CD release which was a collaboration with Sam Bevan, Mas Koga and Grant Levin. We’ve just received the final cds and will soon have them up on itunes and cd baby for purchase!

The musicians are:
Sam Bevan – bass
Mas Koga – sax, flutes
Grant Levin – piano
Bryan Bowman – drums

The CD was recorded at San Pablo Recorders by Bond Bergland. It was mixed at Spliggetyfidge records by Kevin Weber and mastered By Sam Bevan at Bev’s Lair Studios.

Our CD Release date will be announced soon! In the mean time you can listen to samples by clicking play on the Reverb Nation player on the right side of this page.

The cd cover is actually from a painting by the great bay Area artist, Yvette Buiguess.

For more information about this release and for booking send me an email.